Casting-clamp for track structures.



Patented July 9, l90l.

No 678,l66.

A. B. DAVENPORT, 1n.- CASTING CLAMP FOB TRACK STRUCTURES- (Application filed Jan. 24, 1900. No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. amuse. Patented m 9, IBM. A. B. DAVENPURT, m

CASTING CLAIM FOR TBAOK STBUCTURES.

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- UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR B. DAVENPORT, JR.,YO F, PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, As- SIGNOR TO WILLIAM WIIARTON, JR, & COMPANY, INCORPORATED,

OF SAME PLACE.

CASTING-CLAMP FOR TRACK STRUCTURES.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of LettersPatent No. 678,166, dated July 9, 1901.} Application filed January 24, 1900. Serial No. 2,632. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, ARTHUR B. DAV NPORT,

' J r., a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Casting-Clamps for Track Structures, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide means whereby rails or other similar structures can be readily secured in proper position and held there during the process of uniting them rigidly together by cast'metal. This object I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved clamp for holding the rails in place during casting. Theviewillustrates-therail-sections of a frog in position. Fig. 2 is a side view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional View on the line 3 3, Fig. 1. Fig. tis a plan view of the baseplate. Figs. 5 and 6 are views of the supporting-blocks used in connection with the base-plate. Fig. 7 is a plan view of the supporting-plate, slightly differing in form from that shown in Fig. 1 and used for long and narrow structures, such as switches and switch mates. Fig. 8 is a side View of Fig. 7; and Fig. .9 is asectional View on the line 9 9, Fig. 7.

Referring in the first instance to Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, A is a base-plate, and in the upper face of this plate are a series of groovesa a a which cross at the center, as shown in Fig. 2. These grooves extend the full length of the plate in the present instance, and mounted on the plate A are blocks B, having tongues b, which fit snugly in the grooves. These blocks can be adjusted within the grooves in any position from and toward the center of the plate and are for the purpose of keeping the main rail-sectionsin alinement and sufficiently far fronrthe base-plate to allow for the proper rammingof the sand of the mold. It Will be "observed that the grooves which act as guides for the blocks each have theirparts in alinernent that is to say, each groove so extends that when the blocks are mounted therein said blocks are held in a proper alinement corresponding to the alinement required for the rail-sections which are supported upon said blocks. The grooves form longitudinal guides to hold the blocks having tongues in alinement. On the upper face of each block B is a rib I), preferably of the contour of the groove of the main rail-sections O C, Fig. 1. In the present instance there are two blocks B B supporting the rail-section C and there are two blocks 13 B supporting the rail-section 0. Thus when the blocks are mounted on the base-plate A and the rail-sections O G mounted on the blocks the rail-sections must aline. Adapted to rest upon the surface of the base A are blocks D. These blocks are fiat on the under side, the projection being dispensed with; but

there is a ribd on the upper face of each block similar to the rib b" of the block B. This rib d fits the groove in the crossing rails F F. The blocks being smooth onthe under side can be placed in any, position on the base-plate A. In the present instance, as shown in Fig. 1, the rail-sections OandFare coupled together by bolts 0 c and the railsections 0 and F are coupled together by bolts 0 0 so that it will be seen that the rails C and F and O and F are secured together before the rails are placed on the base-plate A. Thus when the rails Oand G are properly mounted on their blocks, which are adapted to grooves in the base-plat,e,the four rails must necessarily bear the proper relation to each other. The space between the end of the railsect-ions in the present instance is intended to be filled in by a casting, which may form the entire center of the frog structure. As shown by dotted lines, this casting may have area hard-metal plate. When the rail-sections are in proper position and supported by their respective blocks B and D, they are firmly clamped to the base-plate by cross-bars E E and vertical bolts e, which pass through slots e in the cross-bars E and through slots 6 111 the base-plate A. By making slots in the 95 base-plates and in the cross-bars the bolts can. be adjusted as desired. Therei'may be any number of slots in theplates, depending upon the character ofthe work to be clamped.

In Figs. 7, -8,'and 9 I have shown a modificess in its upper surface for the reception of cation of the device used particularly for clamping rail-sections to form switches and switch mates. In the base-plate A (shown in Fig. 7) are two parallel grooves a a, and in the base-plate are a series of slots 2 for the reception of the securing-bolts- The same blocks B and D are used in connection with the base-plate A as with the base-plate A, and the rail-sections are secured in position on these blocks, as indicated in the figures, the rail-sections C and 0 being in line, while the section F is secured to a section C on an angle by means of bolts 0 0 After the rail-sections are in position, as shown, the mold is made in the sand,-as in Fig. 9, and

molten metal is cast within the space between structures, of a base-plate having a longitudinal guide the parts of which are in alinement, and blocks engaging with said guide and shaped to engage with the rails clamped thereto and to hold the same in alinement with the blocks, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a base-plate having a groove the parts of which are in alinement therein, blocks, each block having a tongue adapted to the groove, and having a rib on its upper face adapted to the groove in a railsection, and a clamp for holding the said section to the blocks, substantially as described.

3. The combination in means for securing rails together, in the process of forming rail structures, of a base-plate having a guide the parts of which are in alinement, two sets of blocks, one set fitted to the guide and the other set adapted to rest upon the surface of the base-plate, and means for securing the rails to the base-plate, substantially as described. 1

4. The combination of a base-plate having a groove in its upper surface, two sets of blocks, one set of blocks having tongues on their under side adapted to grooves in the base -plate, the other set of blocks being smooth on the under side, each block having a rib adapted to the groove in the rail-sections, and means for clamping the rai1-sections to the block and to the base-plate, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a base-plate having two or more grooves at an angle to each other, each of which grooves has its parts in alinement, two or more sets of blocks having tongues adapted to the grooves, ribs on the upper face of each block adapted to the grooves in the rail-sections, with means for securing the rail-sections to the blocks and to the base, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR B. DAVENPORT, JR.

Vitnesses:

LEWIS R. ASHHURST, J12, O. W. CROASDILL. 

